Not real pain, but batsu games (punishment games). It is a cultural ritual for celebrities to endure mild humiliation—getting shocked by a buzzer, dipped in freezing water, or making fun of their own failures.
The industry monetizes this through You buy a CD, you get a ticket. You stand in line, you shake your idol’s hand for exactly 4 seconds. This isn't just a meet-and-greet; it is the product . Not real pain, but batsu games (punishment games)
It’s a beautiful, bizarre machine. And once you learn the rules, you can’t look away. You stand in line, you shake your idol’s
Shows like Alice in Borderland and First Love have gone global, bypassing the traditional TV networks (the "Key Stations"). This is forcing a cultural shift. Suddenly, Japanese writers are allowed to break the "happy ending" rule and explore darker, anti-hero narratives—something the terrestrial networks avoided for fear of upsetting sponsors. Finally, you cannot discuss Japanese entertainment without discussing the economics of the fan. The "Oshi" (推し)—your favorite member of a group—is a religion. And once you learn the rules, you can’t look away
Beyond the Kawaii: Understanding the Grit and Grace of Japan’s Entertainment Machine
If you are a new fan, don’t be frustrated by the slow pacing of a drama or the strict rules of an idol group. Instead, look for the wabi-sabi (beauty in imperfection) in the low-budget variety show sets, or the kintsugi (repairing with gold) in the way a comedian turns a failed joke into a running gag.